Written Answers Thursday 21 August 2008

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14717 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008, when it expects a definitive outcome to the West of Scotland Regional Planning Group’s consideration and implementation planning on ambulance services to meet the growing demand for transfer to Hairmyres Hospital or the Golden Jubilee National Hospital for primary angioplasty and what additional resources will be made available to ensure that other category A calls will be dealt with within agreed national targets when ambulances are undertaking such transfers.

Nicola Sturgeon: The West of Scotland Regional Planning Group has agreed to support the introduction of an optimal reperfusion therapy service. The service modelling undertaken by the group, in conjunction with the Scottish Ambulance Service, is intended to ensure that the redesign of services for patients requiring primary PCI does not prejudice the Scottish Ambulance Service’s ability to respond to all category A calls in the region.

  To back-fill the use of ambulances transporting patients to the primary PCI centres, the Scottish Ambulance Service will be deploying two additional rapid response vehicles in the region. Repatriation of patients after primary PCI will be undertaken by two new dedicated ambulances in order to further reduce pressure on front-line ambulances.

Ambulance Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14717 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008, when it expects a definitive outcome to consideration and implementation planning by groups other than the West of Scotland Regional Planning Group on ambulance services to meet the growing demand for transfer to hospitals for primary angioplasty and what additional resources will be made available to ensure that other category A calls will be dealt with within agreed national targets when ambulances are undertaking such transfers.

Nicola Sturgeon: A business case for the introduction of optimal reperfusion therapy is being considered by the South East and Tayside Regional Planning Group.

  The North of Scotland Planning Group is developing a model of optimal reperfusion which takes account of geography and the availability of clinical staff. In addition to pre-hospital thrombolysis, which will continue to be provided in appropriate cases, plans are being made for the provision of daytime primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for those within 60 minutes’ travel time of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

  These plans, which have been developed in conjunction with the Scottish Ambulance Service, take account of the service’s targets relating to all category A calls.

Dentistry

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that people being provided with false teeth do not experience delays because of changes to General Dental Council regulations.

Shona Robison: Regulations introduced by the General Dental Council between July 2006 to July 2008 relate only to the registration of dental technicians and clinical dental technicians, not to operational processes. From July 2006, it has been a legal requirement for clinical dental technicians to be registered. This existing regulatory framework is relatively long standing. From 31 July 2008, dental technicians have also required registration. This should not impact directly on denture provision or result in delays.

  Governance arrangements for denture provision should improve following the introduction of registration regulations as all denture professionals will now have formal training and have demonstrated the competence necessary to deliver a safe and effective standard of care.

Health

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the policies set out in the timelines in Annex A of Delivering for Health (a) remain its policy and are (i) on time or have been implemented or (ii) behind schedule and (b) are no longer its policy.

Nicola Sturgeon: Delivering for Health has been superseded by the Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan  published in December 2007. Copies are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44287).

  NHS CEL 20 2008 sets out the approach to implementing Better Health, Better Care This includes a process for considering any relevant outstanding items from Delivering for Health. NHS CEL 20 2008 is available from www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk.

Health

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14712 by Shona Robison on 22 July 2008, when it expects to be in a position to announce decisions on the future shape of the domiciliary oxygen therapy service.

Shona Robison: I wrote to all MSPs on 1 August to advise them of my decision to proceed with a second phase of the review of the Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy Service (DOTS). This will comprise commissioned research and the establishment of a review group with recommendations to be provided to me by end March 2009. I will announce my decision on the future of DOTS following full consideration of the recommendations.

Health

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to introduce the use of the SeQual Eclipse 2 Portable Oxygen Concentrator for NHS patients with breathing difficulties.

Shona Robison: The Portable Oxygen Concentrator Service is supplied through NHS National Services Scotland Health Facilities Scotland. The Eclipse 2 device is currently available, in a limited capacity, primarily for use by patients on holiday in Scotland. It is also supplied on a semi-permanent basis to a small number of patients with particular breathing difficulties, on the request of their respiratory consultant.

  The Eclipse 2 is also supplied to out-of-hours doctors in six health board areas. The requirements of other health boards will be assessed.

  NHS National Services Scotland plans to meet the increasing demand for portable oxygen by patients on holiday and "special case" requests from respiratory consultants by acquiring more of these devices.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, given that one of the main routes for delivery of cognitive behavioural therapy is to be by telephone through NHS 24 and given that the evidence base for this method of delivery is not yet strong, what steps it is taking to prove the efficiency of this modality against face-to-face or online therapy.

Shona Robison: Our £3 million investment in the two pilot projects will focus on new innovative approaches to help those with anxiety and depression including telephone based cognitive behaviour therapy and guided self-help, as well as access to cognitive behaviour therapy on line. Part of the approaches to be tested will use a structured model of care supported by general practice and trained therapists.

  The initiatives will explore and contribute to the evidence base of what works well in terms of access and care for service users and what proves effective in terms of overall outcomes and all steps will be taken to ensure the right patents are assessed and referred to this service through an algorithm designed by NHS 24.

  The Scottish Government has already published timetabled targets on reducing anti depression prescribing and on increasing access to psychological therapies. We are also keen to see change through our published standards for integrated care and now see merit in investing this significant sum to test reaction and benefits from new ways of responding to those in need and to put them more in control of their condition.

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures and practices are in place to ensure that police forces meet their obligations under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 when using their powers to remove a person to a place of safety.

Kenny MacAskill: Police forces have their own operating procedures in respect of policing issues when dealing with mental health issues, which give guidance to all officers. These cover all relevant legislation. In addition, training on mental health issues is currently provided to police officers both in-force and nationally. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) will shortly publish detailed guidance for officers on a number of diversity issues, including the use of powers contained in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 to remove a person to a place of safety.

  A Mental Health Act Review Group was set up by Shona Robison, the Minister for Public Health, in January this year. Members of the group are undertaking a limited review of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, which will include engaging with those who operate the act and report back to the Minister for Public Health with recommended changes.

NHS Hospitals

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the report from the anaesthesia group commissioned by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, as part of the independent scrutiny panel process, to look into anaesthetic provision at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: The report of the independent external clinical review of anaesthetic services at the Vale of Leven Hospital was published on Friday 15 August.

  A copy of the report is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/924/0064627.pdf.

Organ Donation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what further discussions it has had with, or representations it has made to, the Department of Health Donor Task Force, chaired by Elizabeth Biggins, and what consideration it is giving to the need for legislation in this area.

Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland is represented on the UK-wide Organ Donation Taskforce, which is currently considering the risks and benefits associated with a move to a system of opting out as the basis of organ donation. The taskforce will be submitting its report on the subject to the UK Health Ministers later in the year.

People with Special Needs

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it has given to local authorities in relation to consultation with service users and their advocates in advance of any change of provision, or of care providers, for people with special needs.

Shona Robison: Guidance issued to local authorities on Single Shared Assessment and Care Management, emphasises that effective care management and review should take account of the views of individual service users and their carers. Ultimate decisions about the commissioning of care services are matters for individual local authorities, within their statutory responsibilities. However, local authorities also have a specific duty to offer eligible social work clients the opportunity to manage their own care services, through Self Directed Support.

Prescription Charges

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring arrangements are in place for changes to the levels of prescribing and costs following the decision to reduce and eventually end prescription charges.

Shona Robison: Arrangements have been put in place to monitor a range of factors including:

  Trends in prescriptions that are exempt and paid for,

  Volume of prescriptions dispensed,

  Prescription pre-payment certificate sales,

  Prescribing expenditure and

  Trends in prescribing of specific drugs.

  The data collected will allow assessment of the impact of the policy.

Prescription Charges

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on prescription charges on 5 December 2007 ( Official Report , c 4063), what further consideration has been given to the implications for the minor ailments service when prescription charges have been abolished and whether this service will be extended to all patients.

Shona Robison: We are not planning to extend the Minor Ailments Service to all patients when prescription charges are abolished, but do intend to ensure that the patient groups that currently qualify (e.g. children, the elderly and those currently exempt on low income grounds) continue to do so. We will also take the opportunity of the abolition of prescription charges in 2011 to consider whether there are any other modifications to the Minor Ailments Service that might be appropriate in the wider context of Better Health Better Care.

Prison Service

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what prisons the prisoner population exceeds the design capacity by (a) 5%, (b) 10% and (c) 20%.

Kenny MacAskill: Prison populations necessarily vary on a daily basis. The position as at 15 August 2008 was as follows:

  

 Exceeds 5%
 Exceeds 10%
 Exceeds 20%


 Cornton Vale
 Edinburgh
 Aberdeen


 Glenochil
 Polmont
 Barlinnie


 Perth
 
 Dumfries


 
 
 Greenock


 
 
 Inverness

Road Safety

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to deter motorists from speeding on the M74.

Kenny MacAskill: Under the Scottish Safety Camera Programme six mobile camera sites, five within Dumfries and Galloway and one within Strathclyde, have been successfully established on the M74 and the A74 (M). Since the cameras have been deployed the average speed of the traffic at the camera sites in Dumfries and Galloway has dropped from an average of 86 to 89mph down to an average of 70 to 72mph. In Strathclyde the average speed of traffic at the camera site has dropped from 69mph down to 66mph.

  In addition to the deployment of safety cameras, the police constantly patrol the full length of the M74 and the A74 (M) in both marked and unmarked vehicles to enforce a wide range of traffic legislation, including those laws relating to speeding.

School Leavers

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why a higher proportion of male than female school leavers is unemployed and what action it is taking to address this imbalance.

Fiona Hyslop: The higher proportion of male than female school leavers not in employment, reflects the gender split in both underachievement in school and unemployment in the adult population.

  We recognise that staying in learning post-16 is a priority for both males and females. The importance that we place on this is reflected in the following:

  (i) The National Performance Framework indicator "To increase the proportion of school leavers in positive and sustained destinations".

  (ii) Both the strategy to help young people who need More Choices and More Chances and Curriculum for Excellence are firmly focused on identifying the needs of each young person individually and targeting the relevant support where it is needed. This support must deliver equally well for all young people of both genders.

  (iii) Skills for Scotland, the skills strategy, aims to encourage all young people to stay in learning post-16 as this is the best way for ensuring their long-term employability and contribution to a more prosperous Scotland.

  (iv) Building the Curriculum 3 makes it clear that the success of the education system will be judged on the extent to which it contributes to the national indicator on positive and sustained destinations.

Schools

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met the City of Edinburgh Council to discuss its school building programme; what the outcome was of these discussions, and when it is estimated that work will start on building the new (a) Portobello, (b) Boroughmuir and (c) James Gillespies high schools.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13387 on 5 June 2008, which explained when I last met the City of Edinburgh Council. There has been no meeting since 5 June.

  As to Edinburgh’s school building programme, I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-3183 on 8 May 2008.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-08/sor0508-02.htm#Col8422.

Young Offenders

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children aged under 16 have been admitted to Scottish Prison Service prisons in each of the last eight quarters.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The number of children (aged over 14 and under 16) who were admitted to a Scottish Prison or Young Offenders Institution are shown in the following table.

  

 
 Time Period of Interest
 Number of Under 16s


 2006
 Quarter 1: 01-01-06 to 31-03-06
 11


 
 Quarter 2: 01-04-06 to 30-06-06
 7


 
 Quarter 3: 01-07-06 to 30-09-06
 15


 
 Quarter 4: 01-10-06 to 31-12-06
 1


 2007
 Quarter 1: 01-01-07 to 31-03-07
 4


 
 Quarter 2: 01-04-07 to 30-06-07
 6


 
 Quarter 3: 01-07-07 to 30-09-07
 7


 
 Quarter 4: 01-10-07 to 31-12-07
 1



  Source: Scottish Prison Service Prisoner Records System.

  Note: Individuals can be admitted more than once.

  Information for the first quarter of 2008 will not be available until after the publication of the final 2007-08 data in the Prison Statistics Scotland 2007-08 Bulletin on 29 August 2008. Data for the rest of 2008 are due to be published in 2009.